Arts & Culture

Discover Unique Museums, Public Art & Cultural Events

From museums devoted to big-name artists like surrealist Salvador Dalí and glass artist Dale Chihuly, to incredible street murals adorning the buildings around St. Pete’s Central Avenue, art—and the cultures it celebrates—is all around you in St. Pete/Clearwater.

One of the area’s biggest draws for art lovers is The Dalí Museum—the largest collection of the surrealist’s work outside of Spain, housed in a crazy-cool building in downtown St. Pete. Peruse his gigantic masterworks, take a selfie in the Bubble Mirror, then have a snack and put your feet up in Café Gala. Another fantastic stop is the Chihuly Collection at the Morean Arts Center. Get lost in a swirl of classy glass sculptures, in a building designed to show off these amazing creations—and before you go, pop into the Morean Glass Studio and Hotshop to see resident artists creating glass art right in front of your eyes. Nearby, The Museum of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg will give you your fix of fine artists, from the classic to the contemporary.

But there’s more than just gorgeous museums waiting for you. The outdoor art scene is nothing short of astounding. Hundreds of murals have popped up in recent years on buildings in the Central Arts District in downtown St. Petersburg. Get a sneak peek of these gigantic public works by browsing the neighborhood on your own, or take the walking mural tour to hear the stories behind their creation.

Plan your trip around annual cultural events in historic Tarpon Springs, or catch the more frequent art celebrations and shows like the St. Pete Second Saturday Artwalk or the twice-monthly Gulfport Art Walk. You’re sure to find plenty of opportunities to feed your right brain and to grab a special souvenir at one of the many area art galleries.